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Why Religion Is Natural and Science Is Not

A naturalist examines the cognitive and cultural foundations of religion, science, and more

Cognition
The Impact of Devotional Practices on Religious Belief

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on October 4, 2016

Although purely devotional practices seem to reinforce explicit religious beliefs, they seem to have little effect on either implicit religious representations or their influence.

Although purely devotional practices seem to reinforce explicit religious beliefs, they seem to have little effect on either implicit religious representations or their influence.

Religion
Some Facts about Facts

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on May 14, 2016

Humans have devised no better general approaches than those of science for adjudicating disputes about empirical facts.

Humans have devised no better general approaches than those of science for adjudicating disputes about empirical facts.

Religion
New Attempts to Evangelize Skeptics and Atheists

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on March 20, 2016

Both the cognitive by-product theory of religious representations and theories of secularization offer pessimistic appraisals of these new evangelical measures.

Both the cognitive by-product theory of religious representations and theories of secularization offer pessimistic appraisals of these new evangelical measures.

Spirituality
Mentalizing, Ontological Confusions, and Religious Belief

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on December 17, 2015

New research findings from Finland suggest that facility with theory of mind may be less important for religious belief than most cognitive scientists of religion have assumed.

New research findings from Finland suggest that facility with theory of mind may be less important for religious belief than most cognitive scientists of religion have assumed.

Religion
What's Wrong With Norway?

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on November 2, 2015

Conventional religious activities may be on the decline in secularized northern Europe, but many Norwegians appear to be enthralled with ghosts.

Conventional religious activities may be on the decline in secularized northern Europe, but many Norwegians appear to be enthralled with ghosts.

Forgiveness
Why Is Commonsense Common?

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on September 26, 2015

Some commonsense is hard-won with experience, yet at the same time infants the world over seem to understand how some things in the world work.

Some commonsense is hard-won with experience, yet at the same time infants the world over seem to understand how some things in the world work.

Ethics and Morality
Morally Indifferent Gods

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on August 20, 2015

Evidence from cultural anthropology and the history of religions belies the claim that religion and morality are intrinsically connected.

Evidence from cultural anthropology and the history of religions belies the claim that religion and morality are intrinsically connected.

Ethics and Morality
Un-Churched Chimps

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on May 27, 2015

Research on monkeys and chimpanzees suggests that moral sensibilities evolved long before religious sensibilities.

Research on monkeys and chimpanzees suggests that moral sensibilities evolved long before religious sensibilities.

Religion
Iconoclastic Puritans

Robert N. McCauley Ph.D. on March 11, 2015

Why images of the gods are often targets of religious zealots and why religious zealots will never run out of images to target.

Why images of the gods are often targets of religious zealots and why religious zealots will never run out of images to target.